Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

Horsing around

Saddle up for the best horse-riding holidays across the b.there! network.

Words: Ben Mondy

Palma

The first image that often springs to mind when thoughts turn to Mallorca is hardly of peaceful countryside, beautiful mountain forests and monasteries. Yet while the sandy beaches and aquamarine seas tend to take all the limelight, the hidden unspoilt Mallorca is well worth exploring. And what better way to explore than on a trusty steed moving at your own pace.

Hidden Trails (hiddentrails.com) offers such an experience with a five-day trail that takes in all the best that Mallorca has to offer. Over the course of the trip you can relax in shady palm gardens, ride through forests and over fields to the beach and enjoy the culture and bathing options of this beautiful island. The riding starts in the northern part of the island and takes in the remote and secluded Mallorcan mountains, which provide stunning views, as well as the Monastru of Lluc, Mallorca’s most sacred site, located in a spectacular setting in the Serra de Tramuntana.

The horses are a local Mallorcan mix and the pace is considered moderate with trots and canters and with around four to six hours in the saddle per day. The going is considered suitable for low to intermediate and above abilities. The package includes four nights’ accommodation (featuring two nights in a B&B, one night in the Cloister hotel and one night in four-star country hotel), three riding days, plus breakfast and a daily picnic on the trail, and comes in at around €575.

Portugal

Fly in to either Lisbon or Faro airports and then look forward to exploring the beautiful countryside of the southern Alentejo regions of Portugal on a famous pure-bred Lusitano horse. It really is an irresistible combination; the Lusitano is the indigenous hot-blooded horse of Portugal and has been ridden for over 5,000 years, making it one of the oldest saddle horses in Western Europe.

Almost as stunning is the Alentejo countryside, which is the hottest, driest region of inland Portugal. Scorching in summer, lush in spring and enduring sub-zero temperatures in winter, it is known as one of the least polluted areas in Europe.

Equestrian Escapes (equestrian-escapes.com) offers great horse-riding holidays through the area. Based on a farm, you are a guided through the intricacies of the Lusitano horse and across the fabulous untouched terrain by chief instructor Nuno Baptista, both a national judge and a member of the national dressage team in Portugal.

Lessons are available from beginners to advanced in dressage, or you can choose to trail ride along the miles and miles of tracks where you will hardly meet a single vehicle. Driving a powerful Lusitano through the beautiful scenery of this region is something everyone, horse lover or not, should experience.

The riding package will be tailored to meet your needs, but as a guide a one-week stay with five days of riding twice a day (choose from lessons, trail rides or carriage-driving lessons) plus full board costs from €1,130 per person.

Ljubljana

For the serious horse lover it is hard to go past an opportunity to take a course in classic dressage riding on the most noble and famous of all breeds; the Lipizzaner. However at the Lipizzan Riding Centre and Stud farm it is possible, with a wide range of courses, from individual expert dressage through to beginners and intermediate trail riding. Founded in 1580, the ancient stud farm is today a world-famous sports and recreational centre and is one of the most attractive cultural and historical sites of the Republic of Slovenia, situated close to the border with Italy.

Here you will ride one of the noble white Lipizzan horses, the culmination of a tradition in breeding and selection of pure Lipizzan horses that has been alive for over 400 years. In addition, you spend an unforgettable holiday in this green oasis of Karst, in the shade of century-old linden trees and oaks and under the bluest of blue skies.

The beauty of this place lies in its rarity. There are only a handful of classical riding schools in the world and only two of them provide such an experience on the back of a Lipizzaner. Far and Ride (farandride. com) offers a range of tuition packages that are based on your level of experience and typically include 12 one-hour lessons spread over five or six days and include bed and breakfast or half-board accommodation options. Prices are dependent on your itinerary. See the website for further information.

Budapest

For the experienced rider who enjoys fast riding on top-quality horses, a seven-night trail ride on the famous Hungarian breed of horse the Kisberi might just be heaven on a saddle. The pure Kisberi horses used are bred at the stud farm belonging to Janos Loskas, who also leads the rides.

A noble, elegant horse bred for the cavalry officers (Hussars) during the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, they are mostly between about 16 hands and 17 hands and are considered an intelligent, responsive and thoroughly enjoyable ride.

The pace of all itineraries is moderate to fast with good opportunities for long canters. During the four to six hours riding each day you are likely to cover 40-50km. Ride Worldwide (rideworldwide.co.uk) offers two itineraries leaving from Budapest. The Great Plains Ride takes place in the ‘Puszta’ vast open plains, while The Vanyarc to Eger Ride begins on a farm about an hour’s drive north of Budapest and ends in Eger, an historic town and famous wine-growing area. With hardly a single fence or man-made obstacle to cross on the way, the going on both rides is excellent.

The rides include a variety of accommodation, mostly in modern hotels but sometimes in private guesthouses, converted manor houses and castles. The Great Plains Ride costs €1,469 and the Vanyarc to Eger Ride, €1,356.

Spanish Riding School

Perhaps the most famous of all horses (excluding the Lone Ranger’s Silver) are the Viennese Lippizaners of the Spanish Riding School in Vienna

These horses are direct descendants of the Andalusian horse and part of the school that was established in 1572 as an adjunct to the Court in order to educate their nobility in the equine arts. It was called the Spanish Riding School because right from its formation only Spanish stallions were used there.

The school is famous for Lipizzan ballet, the only demonstration of the classic equestrian skills (haute école) that is still practised in its original form. This classic riding technique can be experienced live in the baroque ambiance of the Imperial Palace in Vienna, where, set to music, the horse and riders merge as one. While you are unable to actually ride one these famous horses (to ride a Lippizan check out the Slovenia section), you can take in the daily gala performances as well as paying to witness the horses’ morning exercise with music as well as enjoying a guided tour of the school. Check out viennaticketonline.com for availability and ticket prices.

FR Séjours équestres

Palma; the noble Lippizaner

Almost as stunning is the Alentejo countryside, which is the hottest, driest region of inland Portugal. Scorching in summer, lush in spring and enduring sub-zero temperatures in winter, it is known as one of the least polluted areas in Europe.

Equestrian Escapes (equestrian-escapes.com) offers great horse-riding holidays through the area. Based on a farm, you are a guided through the intricacies of the Lusitano horse and across the fabulous untouched terrain by chief instructor Nuno Baptista, both a national judge and a member of the national dressage team in Portugal.

Lessons are available from beginners to advanced in dressage, or you can choose to trail ride along the miles and miles of tracks where you will hardly meet a single vehicle. Driving a powerful Lusitano through the beautiful scenery of this region is something everyone, horse lover or not, should experience.

The riding package will be tailored to meet your

FR Séjours équestres

Palma

Tandis que les plages de sable fin de Mallorca et les eaux couleur aigue-marine ont tendance à occuper le devant de la scène, d’autres endroits préservés de l’île méritent d’être explorés. Et comment mieux partir en exploration que bien campé sur un solide destrier ? Les chemins de traverse (hiddentrails.com) proposent un circuit de cinq jours qui passe par tous les lieux les plus merveilleux que l’on peut recenser à Mallorca. Les chevaux proviennent des élevages locaux et le rythme de la promenade convient à tous les niveaux. L’offre globale comprend quatre nuits d’hôtel, trois jours de cheval, plus petit-déjeuner ainsi qu’un pique-nique quotidien durant les excursions pour un coût de €575.

Portugal

Explorez la campagne magnifique d’Alentejo, la région du sud du Portugal, sur un cheval de race Lusitano. Les escapades équestres (equestrian-escapes.com) constituent de fantastiques vacances à cheval, sous la conduite de l’instructeur chevronné Nuno Baptista, à la fois juge national et membre de l’équipe nationale de dressage du Portugal. Un séjour d’une semaine incluant cinq jours d’équitation deux fois par jour (choisissez entre les leçons, les promenades ou les leçons de conduite d’attelages) plus la pension complète revient à minimum €1 130 par personne.

Ljubljana

Pour le farouchement passionné de chevaux, rien ne surpasse un cours dans élevage classique, montant les espèces les plus nobles et renommées, les Lipizzan. Fondé en 1580, le Centre Equestre Lipizzan et le haras sont situés près de la frontière de l’Italie. Far and Ride (farandride.com) offre des formules basées sur votre niveau d’expérience et qui en règle générale se déroulent en 12 leçons d’une heure réparties sur cinq ou six jours. Diverses options de logements sont également proposées.

Budapest

Pour le cavalier accompli, une expédition de sept nuits sur le fameux Kisberi, la race de chevaux hongroise, s’apparente purement et simplement à un rêve sur une selle. Ride Worldwide (rideworldwide.co.uk) propose deux itinéraires au départ de Budapest. Le Parcours des Grandes Plaines (£1 165) a lieu dans les vastes plaines à perte de vue dans le ‘Puszta’, tandis que le parcours de Vanyarc jusqu’à Eger (£1 075) démarre à partir d’une ferme au nord de Budapest et se termine à Eger, une ville historique et une région réputée pour ses vignobles.

NL Paardrijden

Palma Hoewel zijn zandstranden en diepblauwe zee alle aandacht opeisen, is ook het ongerepte Mallorca het ontdekken waard. En hoe doe je dat beter dan op een trouw ros? Hidden Trails (hiddentrails.com) organiseert een vijfdaagse trektocht die de pareltjes van Mallorca ontsluiert. De paarden zijn van een plaatselijk ras en lopen aan een voor iedereen geschikt tempo. Het pakket omvat vier overnachtingen, drie rijdagen, plus ontbijt en een dagelijkse picknick onderweg. Je betaalt er 575 euro voor.

Portugal

Verken het prachtige landschap van de zuidelijke Alentejo van Portugal op de rasechte Lusitano-paarden. Equestrian Escapes (equestrian-escapes.com) biedt fantastische ruitervakanties, geleid door hoofdinstructeur Nuno Baptista, Portugees rechter én lid van het nationale dressuurteam. Een verblijf van één week met vijf dagen lang twee keer per dag rijden (kies uit lessen of wandelingen of leer met een koets rijden) plus volpension heb je al vanaf 1.130 euro per persoon.

Ljubljana

Voor de echte paardenliefhebber gaat er niets boven lessen klassiek dressuurrijden op het meest edele en bekende paardenras: de Lipizzaner. De paardenfokkerij en tevens rijcentrum van Lipica werd opgericht in 1580 en ligt aan de grens met Italië. Far and Ride (farandride.com) biedt een reeks lespakketten die zijn afgestemd op je ervaring. Ze omvatten doorgaans 12 lessen die zijn gespreid over vijf of zes dagen. Ook talrijke verblijfmogelijkheden zijn inbegrepen.

Boedapest

Voor de ervaren ruiter is een trektocht van zeven nachten op het beroemde Hongaarse paardenras Kisberi de hemel op een zadel. Ride Worldwide (rideworldwide.co.uk) stippelde twee routes uit vanuit Boedapest. The Great Plains Ride (£ 1.165 of ca. € 1,463) verkent de open vlaktes van Puszta, terwijl The Vanyarc to Eger Ride (£ 1.075 of ca. € 1,350) wordt aangevat op een boerderij ten noorden van Boedapest om te eindigen in Eger, een historisch stadje en vermaarde wijnstreek.

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